Sterling rumours are everywhere. Wouldn't mind at all. Better compared to Walcott. Would be good to have Sterling + Hendo, mind both have short contracts and on peanuts. Afterall Pool are a selling club with Selling owners
Personally I wouldn't have Henderson if he was free and his wages were £50 per week. Now Sterling would be different.
Henderson is a good player and would be worth a shout IMO. He's on his last year and if you could get him for around 15 million, he'd be a very useful squad player. Sterling likewise but massively over priced at 50 million. Doesn't impact games regularly enough IMO. He's currently worth about half the reported transfer fee and wages.
I'd take Henderson and Milner into our squad for a £15M pound cost. Both want wages of 100K a week and I think we could stretch to that on five year contracts. £25M spread out over 5 years would cost us £5M a year FFP for both players. Bargain for their workrate and homegrown status.
Nando's 50M got nothing on Luiz's 50M.. 0-2 down against Barca and last defender Luiz lets Suarez to nutmeg him.. He was responsible for the 2nd & 3rrd goals...
Varane and Godin being looked at as CB options apparently. Godin is terrific but Varane would be better for the future of the club
Godin is the best in the world for me. But yeah, as you say, he's almost 30. Long term, Varane is a better option.
Swan's Ki will be a decent box 2 box CM player. Won't be too expensive. Mind Swans were more impacted by Asia cup than ACON or City's buy.
That would be a Victor Moses-like signing. Good player, does a job, not as young as Moses that's granted but you get the point I am making. Ki over a youth player? No thank you (though I can't deny I am a fan of Ki). It's a drum that has been played with thus far unfulfilled hope, but I do genuinely believe we have finally got youth players who can make the step up, and if we manage to wrap up the league, we will definitely see a few young lads getting the time. One thing people forget is that Jose is not going to throw in youth players for the sake of youth, and he also isn't going to accept youth players who don't take their chance. He wants the mental strength from the beginning, and that's how you find the stars not just decent players. There will be the argument of the young lads needing experience to grow, and that is true, but Chelsea don't have the luxury of being able to throw in inexperience in any old game - we aren't Barcelona or Bayern and we don't dominate games to such an extent where this approach is possible. People can also get carried away; they see 30 or so youth players that are very promising and assume every single one can make it - this is not the case we have to be realistic as fans. We can name a multitude of names, but I think it is beyond doubt that Loftus-Cheek and Solanke are young lads who have a lot of potential to live up to (and as a side note, these guys excite me far more than McEachran did, and seemingly don't have attitude problems to match). Solanke may well be playing against Arsenal this weekend with Drogba, Remy and Costa all out (though I imagine one may well be just about fit in time). Isiah Brown is also a fantastically talented young lad who I am sure we will see before the end of the season (and we do have boys on loan, Bamford especially, who are very exciting as well). The point I am making is for once in the Ambramovich era we have a situation where we can look to youth first before looking to the cheque book. I have to admit, I do see the possibility of us making a big summer signing, probably one in midfield, as very likely, but I also see players from the reserves becoming the squad players that will be able to meaningfully challenge the players in our squad. Remember, Jose has favourites, but they are favourites because the always perform, not out of personal bias. If a young player is good enough, Jose will play him. Summer will be interesting. Couldn't be bothered to start a new topic so I just wrote the youth tirade here.
I do agree with your view. However - my opinion of Ki is he will be an upgrade over Mikel / Fab/ Rambo to partner Matic. We don't have to break the bank to sign him. He will bring the Korean market as well as a bonus. About youth - this season remaining matches will be perfect to try out some, provided we wrap the title sooner. This week is crucial in that aspect.
Ki and upgrade over Fabregas. Are you high???!! Fabregas has had a quiet few weeks like some of our other players but lets not forget this is the guy with the most assists in the league. Like Varier, I'd like to see youth brought in over good but not top class buys. If we buy, it really should be for top players who can come in straight away.
I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I am not sure you will find many who agree with the Ki > Fabregas. I'd even wager that his superiority over Ramires is not that clear. However, if you mean Ki would be a better suited partner to Matic then maybe, maybe you have an argument, but I have to say I am not a fan of Fabregas further up the pitch.
I meant exactly that. With all due respect to Ki - will not compare him "pound for pound" with Fab. But - As Matic's partner - Fab seldom tracks back & numerous occasion we were found out. Matic is overcompensating for JT. Rambo is becoming too erratic in that position and light weight as well.
Read my statement. Fab should be given the freedom and play right behind the striker. He is not very good with Matic.
I'm willing to accept that Fabregas' defending is not widely renowned but I would still have to say I'm not convinced we shouldn't just promote a youth player there, or at least sign a more established player.
Fabs best performances this season have been next to Matic not at 10. I'm not sure where this thing of now having to have 2 out and out holding midfielders is coming from. The whole issue last season was that we didn't have a top class ball playing central midfielder to start the attacks and dictate play. Now you want to replace the one we have with another industrious player? Literally makes no sense to me.
